Control device for change-speed gears



April 15, 1952 J. A. GREGOIRE 2,593,297

CONTROL DEVICE FOR CHANGE-SPEED GEARS Filed Oct. 25, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet1 I N VE N TOR alajlfiaifii'e azlre BYJMMW4 ATTORNEYS April 1952 J. A.GREGOIRE 2,593,297

CONTROL DEVICE FOR CHANGE-SPEED GEARS Filed 001;. 25, 1948 4Sheets-Sheet 2 4/ g s 12 A? ZZZ I 4 n I" n f- INVENTOR .5qfimflerifimywre Byfl wva M {W ATTORNEYS April 15, 1952 J. A. GREGOIRECONTROL DEVICE FOR CHANGESPEED GEARS Filed Oct. 25, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet6 I i. p,

if I 8 7 9 x 4 .i {al A k INVENTOR tl mflflerffirejaziv BY Wt ATTORNEYSPatented Apr. 15, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEARS Jean AlbertGregoire, Paris, France Application October 25, 1948, Serial No. 56,297In France October 29, 1947 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to control devices for change speed gears,such as those that are ordinarily used in road or similar vehicles.

It relates more specifically to control devices incorporating a leverthat can be shifted into different positions according to the differentspeeds, no matter whether the said lever is located upon the dashboard,next to the driver or under the wheel.

This invention applies more particularly to change speed gear devices ofthe type having at least four speeds (one of which is over multipliedfor instance) and a reversing gear.

In control devices of this type which are known so far and whichgenerally include, in the gearbox itself, three sliding gears, it wasnecessary up to now to provide for five different positions of the speedgear lever. The trouble about this device was that on the one hand itwas rather complicated to have to operate a device rather different fromthe one that is found on most present day vehicles which only have threespeeds and a reverse.

The present invention has for its object to do away with theseinconveniences.

To this purpose, it consists essentially in providing with a speed gearhaving four speeds and a reversing gear, only four positions of thegearlever, the same position being used for two separate speeds,thesecond and the fourth or overmultiplied one for example, but requiringwhen it is desired to go into one of these particular speeds, theadditional operation of an auxiliary part which is either a small leveror a knob, etc.

This device then shows the following advanpulled back from the thirdinto the second speed a position while acting upon the auxiliary part.When afterwards it is desired to return from the fourth into the third,the operation is done without acting on the auxiliary part.

The result in question can be obtained through the operation of a systemmade up of two antagonistic springs, one of which can be operateddirectly, when required, by the auxiliary part, in such a manner thatthe selective action upon the sliding gear is no longer effected uponthe sliding gear corresponding to the second speed, but on theslidinggear corresponding to the fourth speed.

Other purposes and characteristic features of the present invention willappear in the course 2 of the following description referring to theaccompanying drawings illustrating diagrammatically, by way of nonlimitative examples, a form of execution of the invention as applied toa motor car speed gear control device operated by a lever provided underthe steering wheel.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 shows in the usual diagrammatical manner the different positionsthat can be assumed by a speed gear control lever in a system executedin conformity with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the speed gear control device in theposition which permits the engagement of the second and third speeds.

Fig. 3- is a similar view in a position corresponding to first speed orreverse.

Fig. 4 shows again the same view but in a position corresponding to thefourth or over multiplied speed.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on a larger scale along the line 5-5 in Fig.2. I

Fig 6 is a detail sectional view also on a larger ;scale along the line6-6 in Fig. 3.

, In Fig. 1, the positions of the leverwhen it is in neutral position,in reverse and in the first 'three speeds 1-2--3 have been showndiagrammatically at M, AR, I, II and III. The position of the lever forthe fourth orover multiplied speed is the same as for thesecond speed,as shown at S. The device operates as follows:

, starting from the neutral point M, it is possible to enter reverse orelse separately or successively, in the known manner, each of thepositions. I, II. and III which correspond to first,

second and third speed.

When it is desired to go into fourth or over multiplied position withthe lever in the position III it is necessary to act on the auxiliarypart and to pull back the said lever into the position Under the actionof this auxiliary control part,

it is not the second speed sliding gear which supposed to be in front ofslider I.

fit on as speed control devices of three speed systems and,consequently, is much less cumbersome and complicated than the fourspeed control devices that are now in use.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the top left hand side part in the figureshows diagrammatically the parts in the gear box itself. Ihe latterincludes three sliding gears thatare operated. with a known procedure bythree sliders I, 2 and 3. Slider i corresponds to the first sliding gearoperating the first and reverse speed; slider 2 operates the second andthird speeds; slider 3 operates the fourth or over multiplied speed. Theoperating control member for these sliders has been diagrammaticallyshown in 4 and also on a larger scale in Fig. 5. This member can beworked, as will be explained later on, into the three positions ofpreselection that are shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 and this preselectingmovement 7 brings it either opposite the slider 2 or opposite the sliderI or opposite the, slider 3. In each one of these positions, the samemember can also ssum a ro y or enga in mov mentin. a man.- ner that willalso. be disclosed, hereinafter. This movement of rotation causes thecorresponding slider to move towards the right or the left and bringeither speed into gear.

In Fig. 5, the said control part i, is seen when It consists of a lever4 to which a movement of rotation is impressed round a shaft 5 in theway described hereinbelow. Its round end 6 engages a notch 1' on theslider and it will easily be understood, consequently that this rotationcauses the slider to move either to the right or to the left as shown indottedv lines for engaging into reverse or into first speed. A certainamount of play is provided between the lever end 6 and the; notch "I,this play corresponding to the maximum float of the engine unit. Thepreselection movement of the control member 4 that is to say itsslidingv movement is obtained through a traction cable 8 (which isoperated as will be explained hereinafter) which acts upon it inregister with a spring 9. Its movement ofrotation is executed by meansof a link H! (see more particularly Fig. 5) which forms one and the samepiece with the tube H, along which the hub of lever H slides. A bolt pinl2, rigid; with thelever 4, and. which slides n a'loneitudinal oove of.he tu l, auses the; control lever 4 to rotate together with the link:It) without hindering its sliding movement. It will; now be explainedhow the motion of the controlpart l itself is operated by the. speedcontrol leveri3 located underthe steering wheel, an auxiliary lever itbeing provided for the, control of. th fo rth r. ov r mu plied pee lever13 pivotally secured at. l5 to a shea h. lfi'ca-rrl ed by an outwardlyspher ca s ev i1 mounted with a ball and SQQket joint, a support iswhich is carried by the steering column l9; Said sheath It is mounted insuch a manner as to be capable of rotating inside the rotula support I?without moving axially with reference to the latter.

Inside this sheath-ya tube 26 can rotate and slide, the opposite end ofwhich tube is rigid with a. tubej2l, of a slightly larger diameter,which is arranged a cage 26 provided with a longitudinal slot 21registering with a'similar slot in the tube 26 in order to allow thepassage through it of the pivot 15 around which the lever l3 rotates inrelation to the sheath It, said slots being designed so as to allow thesliding movements of the tube 2t and the cage 26 in relation to thesheath I6. To the cage is hooked the end 28 of the traction cable 8leading to the speed box; as a matter of fact, this cable is not in onepiece but comprises a screw and nut "junction device for adjusting thelength of the cable and thereby the position of the part 4 in relationto the lever 13. A spring 30 is inserted between the cage 25 and anabutment 3| provided on the tube 20. This, spring which is stronglycompressed is, according to the invention, much stronger than the spring9 of the speed box, for reasons that are disclosed hereinbelow.

Besides, a lever 32 connected with the lever It through the agency of alink 33 is used for transmitting the rotary movement of the tube 20 tothe control lever '4. This lever 32 in for this purpose mounted by meansof grooves, that are not visible on the drawing, or of any suitabledevice, in order to be capable ofsliding along the tube 2Q whileremaining constrained to rotate in unison with said tube. To thisarrangement, there is incorporated a stud operated device which will bedescribed later on with reference to Fig. 6.

The rotating and sliding-movement of the tube 29 is operated through thelever I3 in the following manner: said tube 20 is rigid with a part 34at its upper part (on the right of Fig. 2) which is shaped as shown andterminates in a round head 35 sliding inside a sleeve 35 carried by thelever l3. When the lever is tilted backwards in the plane of the.figure, it is obvious that such a movement of the lever, as it rotatesround the pivot i5, causes through action on part 3 3, the whole of thetube 26 to slide. Besides, when the said lever is made to rotateperpendicularly to the plane of the figure, the lever causes the tube 20to rotate through the agency of the pivot [5.

The lever I4 is pivoted to the part 34' round a spindle 31. The otherend of this lever M has two shoulders 38 and 39 shaped as shown. Theshoulder 39 which, in the position illustrated in Fig. 2, bears againstthe tube 20, is used for limiting the movement of the lever 2s towardsthe left hand side of the figure. The shoulder 38 bears against theupper end of the, cage 26. When the lever I4 is hand shifted outwardly.in order to move, it nearer to the, lever l3,'s uch a movement causesthrough the agency of the shoulder 38, the cage to be pushed inwardlyagainst the spring 3! thereby giving the effects which are indicatedbelow.

The device just described operates as follows, examining first the speedengaging movement.

The, apparatus being for example in the position shown in Fig. 2 and thelever is in the position C, the. rotation of this lever in a planeperpendicular to the figure brings about, as already mentioned, arotation of the tube 29 and consequently of the lever 32, wherebythrough the link 33 and the lever it, the control part A is actuatedwhich shifts the slider 2 to the right or to the left that is to sayinto a position that puts into geareither the second or the third speed,according as to whether the lever I3 is moved to the right or to theleft of the plane of the drawing. This putting into gear is performed inthe same way of course when the control part 4 is in front of the firstor of the reverse speed (Fig. 3) or in front of the over multipliedspeed (Fig. 4).

Examining now the sliding or preselection movement of the control part4, it is {apparent that so long as the lever it is not operated, thespring 30 being much stronger than the'spring 9, the whole systemincluding the tube 20 and the cage 26 forms a rigid block. The result isthat the sliding of the tube 28, which is caused by the tilting movementof the lever l3, as has been explained hereinabove, is entirelytransmitted to the control part 4 through the cable 8. This allowsmoving from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position in Fig. 3 andreversely by simply tilting the lever I3 in the plane of the figure,such a tilting m enient causing the control part 4 to move fromtheposition in Fig. 2 reselection of the slider 22) to the position inFig. 3 (preselection of the slider i) and reversely.

If, on the contrary, thelever [3 being in the position .shown in. Fig.2, that is to say the position where thetube 20 is in its innermostsliding position), the lever l4 ispulled outwardly in the plane of thefigure, theshoulder 38 of said lever bears on the cage 26 and compressesthe spring 36. The spring 9, which is no lOnger'cOunter balanced by thespring 33, urges the control part 4 forwards and brings it into registerwith the slider 3 (Fig. d). The transversal rocking of lever 13, actingupon the control part t, will then bring about the engagement intofourth or overmultiplied speed. At that moment, the auxiliary lever 14can be let go, which lever is'urged back into its original position by asmall spring which is not illustrated, the fourth or over-multipliedspeed remains in gear.

To return to any of the other speeds, it is only necessary first to pullback the main lever I3 to the neutral inoperative position M (Fig. 1),then to engage the desired speed in the manner already disclosed. Assoon as the part 4 is back in neutral position (as shown insolid linesin Fig.6), the spring Eli acts on the cable 8 and pulls the part 6 backinto the position shown in the Fig. 2 corresponding to preselection ofthe second and third speeds.

A few additional arrangements will now be dei scribed. When in reverseor first speed (Fig. 3), to avoid passage by mistake into overmultiplied speed, an

abutment 453 is provided on the lever l3 and preents the operation ofthe auxiliary lever i4.

On the other hand, a stud 44 carried by the tube 2 i in front of thelever 32 (see more particularly Fig. 6) moves in front of a plate 42which is shaped as shown and provided with a notch adapted to registerwith said stud when the lever 32 is in its neutral position illustratedat M. This stud bearing upon the plate #52, as can be seen in Figs. 3and 6, prevents the lever i3 from coming under the action of the springii, into the position II-III in Figure 2, as long as the lever 32 is inone of its laterally shifted positions.

What I claim is:

l. A change speed gear including a change speed lever adapted to assumetwo operative positions to either side of a neutral position in each oftwo operative planes corresponding respectively to reverse and firstforward on one hand and to second and third on the other, the positionof modified third being the same as for second forward, two couples ofspeed controlling shift rods corresponding respectively to the couplesof posi tions in each of said planes, the shift rods of the couplecorresponding to the two first positions lying to the front of thecouple providing the two following positions, an intermediary memberadapted to be shifted longitudinally and then transversely for engagingselectively either of said shift rods and to shift same into anoperative position for obtaining the corresponding speed. a transmissionincluding a stout spring and a sliding part urged rearwardly thereby,said transmission operatively connecting the control lever with theintermediary member for producing said longitudinal and transversalmovements of said intermediary member, a further shift rod locatedbeyond the above mentioned couples of shift rods and adapted to beoperatively engaged by the intermediary member and to be shifted therebyinto a position providing modified third through a further longitudinalmovement thereof followed by a transversal movement, a weaker springurging said intermediary member into the direction corresponding toengagement With the further shift rod, an auxiliary control memberassociated with the control lever and adapted to urge the sliding partforwardly against the action of the stout spring for urging the part ofthe transmission lying beyond said sliding part and therewith theintermediary member forward by a distance equal to that separating thesecond couple of shift rods from the further shift rod and means urgingsaid auxiliary control member back into its inoperative position.

2. A change speed gear including a change speed lever adapted to assumetwo operative positions to either side of a netural position in each oftwo operative planes corresponding respectively to reverse and firstforward on one hand and to second and third on the other, the positionof modified third being the same as for second forward, two couples ofspeed controlling shift rods corresponding respectively to the couplesof positions in each of said planes, the shift rods of the couplecorresponding to the two first positions lying ,to the front of thecouple providing'the twofollowing positions, an intermediary memberadapted to be shifted longitudinally and then transversely for engagingselectively either of said shift rods of either couple and to shift sameinto an operative position for obtaining the corresponding speed, atransmission including a stout spring and a sliding part urgedrearwardly thereby, said transmission operatively connecting the controllever with the intermediary member for producing said longitudinal andtransversal movements of said intermediary member, a further shift rodlocated beyond the above mentioned couples of shift rods and adapted tobe operatively engaged by the intermediary memher and to be shiftedthereby into a position providing modified third through a furtherlongitudinal movement thereof followed by a transversal movement, aweaker spring urging said intermediary member into the directioncorresponding to engagement with the further shift rod, an auxiliarycontrol member associated with the control lever and adapted to urge thesliding part forwardly against the action of the stout spring for urgingthe part of the transmission lying beyond said sliding part andtherewith the intermediary member forward by a distance equal to thatseparating the second couple of shift rods from the further shift rodand means urging said auxiliary control member back into its inoperativeposition and an abutment on the control lever preventing operatilm ofthe auxiliary control member when the lever is in the positioncorresponding to reverse and first forward.

3. A change speed gear including a change tions lying to the front ofthe couple providing the two following positions, an intermediary memberadapted to be shifted longitudinally and then transversely for engagingselectively either of said shift rods of either couple and to shift sameinto an operative position for obtainingithe corresponding speed, atransmission including a stout spring and a sliding part urgedrearwardly thereby, said transmission operatively connecting the controllever with the intermediary member for producing said longitudinal andtransversal movements of said intermediary member, a fur ther shift rodlocated beyond the above mentioned couples of shift rods and adapted tobe operatively engaged by the intermediary memher and to be shiftedthereby into a position pro 4 viding modified third through a furtherlongitudinal movement thereof followed by a transversal movement, aweaker spring urging said intermediary member into the directioncorresponding to engagement with the further shift rod, an auxiliarycontrol member associated with the control lever and adapted to urge thesliding part forwardly against the action of the stout spring for urgingthe part of the transmission lying beyond said sliding part andtherewith the intermediary member forward by a distance equal to thatseparating the second couple of shift rods from the further shift rodand means urging said auxiliary control member back into its inoperativeposition and a stationary abutment locking the weaker spring againstreaction on the transmission when the auxiliary control member is in oneof its speed controlling positions. a 4. A change speed gear comprising,in combination: a change speed lever movable to a neutral position andto an operative position on each side of the neutral position about asubstantially vertical axis; said operative positions corresponding toreverse and forward ears, and' to second and third forward gearsrespectively; a second control lever pivoted upon the first named leverand movable in vertical planes at each operative position of the. firstlever; a plurality of gear shifting members; means controlling saidmembers by movements of said leveis; each of said members being movablein two opposite directions; one thereof controlling gears for firstforward and for reverse gears; a second member controlling gears forsecond and third speed gears; and a third controlling a modified thirdforward gear; a connector sliding coaxially with said vertical axisactuated by the second lever to control said i modified third gearshifting member when the first lever is in position for control of thesecond speed forward gear.

JEAN ALBERT GREGOIRE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,887,943 Padgett Nov. 15, 19322,115,089 Tenney Apr. 26; 1938 2,280,045 Na-mpa Apr. 14, 1942 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 387,311 Great Britain Apr. 27, 1931 530,206Great Britain Dec. 6, 1940 538,110, Great Britain V l July 21, 1941807,652 France i g v. Jan. 19, 193? ill

